Cleansed of sin

One statute of emphasis in the Mosaic Law is the prohibition on eating blood. Although certainly important from a health standpoint, this rule also served to emphasize the spiritually symbolic importance of blood.

First, sacrificial blood for the atonement of sins is an important element of the annual Hebrew Day of Atonement (known as the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur in modern times). And then Jesus sacrificed the ultimate blood for the permanent removal of all sins. Thus, Christians view the Old Testament Day of Atonement as foreshadowing the eventual crucifixion of Jesus.
 
Mosaic law, in prohibiting the consumption of blood, required those who do consume it to thoroughly cleanse themselves (Leviticus 17:16 (KJV),

If he wash [his clothes] not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

David hits a similar theme (Psalm 51:2, KJV),

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

The Bible contains many such passages that reference "cleansing" of sin. Returning to the subject of blood, we don't literally wash in blood, of course, but we do figuratively wash ourselves in blood -- through faith in Jesus -- to cleanse ourselves of sin. Let us make that a point of emphasis in our prayers today.